LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky overcame a slow offensive start for a 31-0 win over Youngstown State for its first shutout since the 2009 season opener. The win moved UK to 3-0 on the season.
Kentucky failed to score on its first three offensive drives, including one in which quarterback Will Levis threw an interception just shy of the end zone, but the Wildcats finally broke through with a 1-yard Levis touchdown run on the third play of the second quarter.
A successful two-minute drive just before halftime gave Kentucky a 21-0 lead heading into intermission. A touchdown on the first Kentucky drive of the third quarter ended any hopes of a Youngstown State comeback.
Levis completed 27 of 35 passes for 377 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also scored a rushing touchdown but was sacked four times. Freshmen Dane Key and Barion Brown combined for 11 catches and 146 receiving yards. Key scored a touchdown for the third consecutive game to open his college career.
Kentucky held Youngstown State to just 196 yards. Of that total, 64 yards came on one screen pass in the third quarter.
UK’s last shutout was a 42-0 win over Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 5, 2009. The win over Youngstown was just Kentucky’s second shutout since 1996.
Player of the Game
There have not been many days in Kentucky football history in which a quarterback threw for 300 yards and totaled three touchdowns that he would not have been a shoo-in for this honor. But on an afternoon where the defense led the way again, we’ll give it to junior cornerback Carrington Valentine. Valentine preserved UK’s shutout in the end zone on back-to-back drives early in the third quarter. On the first, he ripped the ball out of the hands of former Kentucky receiver Bryce Oliver after he appeared to catch the ball in the end zone. On the next drive, facing first-and-goal at the 2-yard line, Valentine tipped an interception to himself to end Youngstown State’s best scoring threat of the afternoon.
Turning point
Kentucky’s defense did not flinch after Levis threw an interception near the goal line on the Wildcats’ third offensive drive. Instead, the defense forced a three-and-out, and Robinson returned a 43-yard punt 15 yards to give Kentucky the ball at the Youngstown State 35-yard line. Eight plays later on the third play of the second quarter, Levis broke the deadlock with a 1-yard touchdown run. There were more mistakes from the Wildcat offense in the second quarter, but after the opening touchdown the outcome was never in doubt.
Key stat
Kentucky continues to count down the days until the return of star running back Chris Rodriguez from a four-game suspension. The Wildcats totaled 103 rushing yards against the FCS foe. There was at least one positive for the run game though as senior Kavosiey Smoke scored the first rushing touchdown from a Kentucky running back this season in the third quarter.
